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Research pitting a sniffer dog against scientific equipment has shown that even the most sophisticated laboratory paraphernalia is no match for a wet black nose.

A labrador retriever named Ellie, under the guidance of handler Val Ansett from the New South Wales Fire Brigade, was tested with a series of accelerants and compounds by the Forensic Science Department at University of Technology, Sydney, and Fire Brigade's Fire Investigation and Research Unit.

The research formed the honours thesis work of student Belinda Jones.

The tests found the dog's highly developed ability to detect minute traces of an accelerant such as petrol was superior to results obtained in laboratory testing. In many instances, laboratory tests produced false negative results.

"The number of false positives Ellie produced was quite low," said Dr Du Pasquier, lecturer in fire and crime scene investigation, who supervised the research.

"This surprised me."

But the results did not come as a surprise to Mr Ansett.

"I've done a lot of research into how sensitive the dogs are. I was very pleased we were able to prove it."

In a legal case, however, laboratory results are essential.

"You can't take a dog into the witness box," said Dr Du Pasquier.

"Ellie is a terrific tool to take to the scene. But the work must still be confirmed in the laboratory."

The research also involved monitoring the effect of chemical exposure on the dog.

"I go into a fire scene to make sure it is safe before I take her in," explained Mr Ansett.

"But I was concerned that perhaps she was breathing in products that were damaging to her health."

The Veterinary Department at Sydney University assisted with blood and urine samples and chest X-rays for Ellie during the period of the research.

"There wasn't any damage, which we were very pleased about," said Mr Ansett.

Fire investigators need to be able to detect petroleum-based fuels, ranging from light gas methane to oils and asphalts. Petrol contains more than 100 hydrocarbons in a complex mixture, and the mix varies from refinery to refinery.

The chemicals present can help determine the cause of the fire  whether electrical, accidental, or deliberate.

"When we think it is deliberate, we need to prove how the fire started," explained Dr Du Pasquier.

"We need to find the accelerant, and take it back to the laboratory for identification."

A sniffer dog is extremely helpful in locating the chemicals.

"A fire scene is very messy," explained Dr Du Pasquier.

"Ellie does not react to single compounds, she reacts to compound matrixes like petrol."